Barcelona teen Lamine Yamal named world’s most expensive young player by CIES Football Observatory

Lamine Yamal, the 16-year-old teenager from FC Barcelona, has been named the world’s most expensive young player by the CIES Football Observatory. His value has increased dramatically over the past six months, rising from $12 million to $157 million. This makes him the highest-valued player under 23 in the world.

The CIES Football Observatory published a list of the top 100 players under 23 whose transfer value has increased the most over the last six months. Lamine topped the list by a significant margin, with Joao Neves from Benfica coming in second. Savio, who is set to move to Manchester City from Girona, also saw a substantial increase in value.

Other notable names on the list included Cole Palmer, Endrick, and Jeremy Doku. The list encompassed players from various clubs and leagues, with the Premier League being the most represented with 29 players.

Despite being just 16 years old, Lamine has attracted attention from Paris Saint-Germain, who reportedly made a substantial offer for him. However, Barcelona’s president Joan Laporta rejected the offer, showing confidence in Lamine’s potential and future at the club. Alongside other promising La Masia talents, Lamine is seen as a key player in Barcelona’s future and has recently signed a sponsorship deal with Adidas.